Method and means of identification



April 25, 1933.

L. J. ARPIN METHOD AND MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION Filed April 8 1932 INVENTOR low J jyrpuo, BY

ATTORN EYS.

Patented Apr. 25, 1933 LOUIS J. alarm, on new YORK, n. Y.

METHOD AND MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION Application filed April 5,

This invention relates to a method and means of identification to detect the theft of valuable articles, or the substitution of inferior or imitational articles for real or genuine articles, and the unauthorized use of machines, devices, etc. as well as other unlawful acts'too numerous to mention.

The invention contemplates a seal clasp which is sealed in such manner that not only does the sealing means seal'the clasp, but it also provides for identification, enabling the detection by positive and direct proof of the theft, substitution, unauthorized use, and other unlawful acts.

The invention resides in the novel method and means hereinafter fully described in conjunction with the illustrations in the accompanying drawing, in which v Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seal clasp adapted for use in accordance with the invention; a V

Figure 2 is a view illustrating one form of checking card or tag;

Figure 3 isa view illustrating the manner of sealing the clasp in accordance with the present method;

Figure 4 is a view of the sealed ends of the clasp; Figure 5 is a view illustrating the manner of taking an impression of the features of the sealing means for identification purposes in accordance with the present method;

Figure 6 is a view of a fragment of the card or tag shown in Figure 2 after receiving an impression of the sealing means of the clasp.

In accordance with the invention use is made of a suitable element which is applied to the thing to be protected. Such element is shown by way of example in the drawing in the form of a seal clasp 10 which is constructed of flat strip material, preferably sheet metal such as springy stainless steel. The strip of metal will be of suitable length 4511 and width. This strip is bent upon itself, when applied to the thing'or article to be protected. In the present instance, the strip is bent upon itself to provide a loop or ring 11 having projecting opposing ends 12.1 In the presentinstance, the clasp 10 is used for 1 10 is sealed by heat and pressure.

1932. Serial No. 604,099.

protecting and identifying a fur skin 13. The clasp is applied to the skin 13 by engaging the loop/11 thereof in an aperture, or apertures, such as the eye holes of the skin 13, by passing one of the ends 12 therethrough. After this has been done, the clasp 10 is ready to be sealed in accordance with the method hereinafter described.

In accordance with the method of this invention, the ends 12 of the clasp 10 are distorted to seal one of the ends 12 to the other end 12, by pressure or heat or by both pressure and heat. In the present instance, the clasp This is accomphshed by the use of an electric spot weldnig device 14. The ends 12 of the clasp arepositioned between the pressure and heat applying elements 15 of the device. The de vice14 is then operated to seal one end 12 to the other by spot welding the same, and it is 0 to be understood that any number and ar-'- rangement of spots may be made with the device 14 to seal the clasp 10. i In the present instance, as shown in Figure 4, the ends 12 of the clasp 10 are sealed by three spots 16. This spot welding of the'ends 12 of the clasp not only forms the sealing means, but also constitutes a means of identification as will hereinafter appear. In accordance with another feature of the present method, use is so made of a suitable index or checking card or tag 17 This card 17 is retained by the deliverer of the fur skin 13 and will be appropriately indexed. As shown,the card 17 has indicia 18 which correspond to the indicia 19on the clasp 10. This indicia may consist ofnumbers or letters or both as shown,'or any other suitable symbols or marks. The card 17 may also have other appropriate information thereon, such as names, of the particular article of goods delivered. The card 17 will be properly ruled and indexed to receive certain information by the proper person. In accordance with a feature of the method, the card 17 will be ruled with cross lines 20 on a certain area thereof extending from one end inwardly thereof. The ruled area of the card is divided into two sections which are indexed by the words Out? and In.

.After the clasp'lO has been applied to the 100 fur skin 13 and then sealed, as has been (:X plained hereinabove, an impression is taken of the features of the Welding spots 16 as a means of identification. This is done before the fur skin is sent out to others for carrying out tanning and other finishing operations. The impression of the features of the welding spots may be taken in any suitable manner, and in the present instance this is accomplished by utilizing a pressure device 21 having a base 22 with an upper flat surface, and a drop weight 23 which is raised by a flexible element 24; connected with the weight and which passes over a pulley 25 and which has a handle 26 for the purpose of raising the weight 23. The card 17 is laid on the base 22, and the ends 12 of the clasp 10 are laid on the card 17, as shown in Figure 5. The

20 weight 22 is then elevated by pulling on the handle 26 and is allowed to drop by gravity thereby forceful y eifecting an intimate contact of the features of the welding spots 16 with the card 17, in the Out section. The features of the welding spots thus will be impressed in exact duplication in the Out section of the card 17, as shown in Figure 6, the impression being designated 27. The welding spots 16 may be definitely located in the Out .tration.

section by the use of a stop 28 secured in fixed relation, in any suitable manner as by spot welding, to one of the ends 12 of the clasp. The stop 28 may be brought into engagement with the front edge of .the base 22 of the device 21 in taking the impression. It will be understood that the card 17 will be laid on the base with its lower edge coincidental with the front edge of the base 22 in order to insure proper reg1s- In the event that the seal h as been tampered with or has been mutilated or broken and again resealedin an attempttochange or substitute an inferior fur skin for the one delivered, this may be detected by the deliverer or owner. This is accomplished by taking another impression with the device 21. The card 17 is again laid on the base 22, and the ends 12 of the clasp are placed on the In section of the card 17. The weight 23 is then dropped to take the impression and even the slightest variation of the welding spots as compared with those originally taken and appearing in the Out section may be easlly detected thereby establishing direct and 1305b tive proof of the wrongful act which has been perpetrated.

I claim:

1. The method which consists in utilizing a seal clasp embodying sealing means to mark an article to be identified; and an index card, and impressing the identifying features of the sealing means to said index card to constitute identifying means by which to identify said article.

2. The method which consists in utilizing a seal clasp to mark an article to be identified,

and a separate impressionable medium, both having identical indices, sealing said clasp in securement to said article. and then impressing the identifying features of the sealing means to said medium to constitute i dentifying means by which to identify said article.

3. The method which consists in utilizing a seal clasp to mark an article to be identified, and a separate impressionable medium, both having identical indices, sealing said clasp in securement to said article, and then impressing the identifying features of the sealing means to said medium by pressure action to constitute identifying means by which to identify said article.

4:. The method which consists in utilizing a flat strip of metal of suitable length, bending the strip upon itself, extending the strip through an aperture of an article to be identified, spot welding the ends of the strip to complete a sealed clasp in securement to said article, and then impressing the identifying features of the welding to suitable material to constitute means of identification.

5. The method of identification which consists in sealing a clasp by spot welding in securement to an article to be identified, and impressing the projections resulting from the welding spots on an index card by the use of a pressure device.

6. A seal clasp constructed of a single piece of metal bent upon itself and so presenting opposing ends, one of said ends being sealed to the other end by welding consisting of spots which form the seal and also providing projections registering therewith constituting a means of identification.

7. A seal clasp embodying means which forms or establishes a seal and which also serves as an identification, and a stop member fixed on the clasp so that an impression may be made in a definite location on a suitable medium.

8. A seal clasp constructed of a strip of sheet metal of suitable length to provide a loop and opposing ends projecting from said loop, and a member fixed on one of said ends and constituting a stop for the purpose specified.

9. The method which consists in marking an article by passing a strip of sheet metal of suitable length through the article, then superimposing one end of the strip on the other end, and then so uniting the ends as to leave projections so spaced as to distinguish said article from others when subjected to the same identification test.

10. The method which consists in marking an article by passing a strip of sheet metal of suitable length through the article, then superimposing one end of the strip on the other end, and then so uniting the ends by heat and pressure as to leave projections so spaced as to distinguish said article from others when subjected to the same identification test.

11. The method which consists in marking an article by passing a strip of sheet material of suitable length through the article, then superimposing one end of the strip on the other end, then distortin the ends by heat and pressure, and then ta 'ng an impression oi the distortion on a checking tag or the li e.

LOUIS J. ARPIN. 

